Courtney Lee returns to New York Knicks, giving David Fizdale another guard to juggle

New York Knicks guard Courtney Lee discusses when he thinks he could come back from injury.
Chris Iseman, Staff Writer, @chrisiseman

New York Knicks' Courtney Lee, standing, is fouled by Washington Wizards' Austin Rivers during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)(Photo: The Associated Press)

There was no one between him and the basket. It was a wide-open fast-break opportunity.

Lee got into the lane and rose toward the basket. He attempted to lay it in off the backboard.

He missed.

The ball rolled off the rim and into the hands of Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal.

"What other way to welcome me back besides with a blooper," Lee said after the Knicks' 110-107 loss at Madison Square Garden. "Welcome back, C-Lee."

Lee was playing his first minutes of the season after missing the first 24 games because of neck and back spasms. The veteran guard will give the Knicks a three-point threat and a steady defensive presence, but his return also adds a layer of intrigue as to how David Fizdale carves out roles for his young guards, particularly Frank Ntilikina.

Fizdale brought Lee off the bench instead of Ntilikina, who hasn't played in two straight games.

Lee played 15 minutes, scoring seven points on 1-of-4 shooting with five rebounds and two assists.

His only field goal was a three-pointer that came with seconds left.

Still, it was a solid return to the court.

"It felt good man," Lee said. "To be able to compete and to be able to play basketball again felt great. To go out there with that group of guys that continued to fight no matter what the score was. Just shows true character. Definitely that’s our DNA."

Of course, Lee's blooper got plenty of attention.

The 33-year-old said his legs were "burning" so he didn't trust himself enough to go up for the dunk. He figured going for the layup would be the safest choice.

It didn't go as planned.

Lee laid it off the backboard too hard and it didn't fall.

He took some ribbing from his teammates. While speaking with reporters after the game, Kevin Knox was talking about Lee's return and mentioned casually that "he missed a layup."

Sitting in his locker just a few stalls down, Lee jokingly yelled out, "Shut up, Kevin."

Still, Lee's return was significant.

He initially injured his neck when he was fouled by Ron Baker during a training camp practice. Lee missed all five preseason games. He returned to practice days before the start of the regular season, but suffered a setback and wound up missing 24 games.

Lee said after Monday's game he feared it could've been a career-ending injury.

His return, though, gives Fizdale another guard to juggle.

The Knicks coach said he went with Lee to see how he looked with the second unit. He said Ntilikina isn't far out of the rotation.

"Look, he’s right there in the holster for me," Fizdale said. "I’m always thinking about him or whoever the next guy can be that can help us. It just worked out the way it did.”

Damyean Dotson, another wing, has been playing well off the bench.

Dotson scored 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting Monday, including 3-of-6 from the perimeter.

He's averaging 17.8 points in his last four games.

Allonzo Trier, an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract, is another guard Fizdale has gone to first off the bench. Trier played 15 minutes Monday and had two points.

Lee, meanwhile, doesn't necessarily fit into the Knicks' long-term plans, while Ntilikina is a 20-year-old who's still being developed. He's had an inconsistent showing offensively this season, and his long-term role is yet to be determined.